In an impulse turbine, where is the steam pressure reduced?

In an impulse turbine, steam pressure is reduced in the stationary nozzles. These nozzles play a crucial role in converting the pressure energy of the steam into kinetic energy. As steam flows through the stationary nozzles, its pressure drops significantly while its velocity increases due to the design of the nozzle, which is specifically shaped to accelerate the steam.

The steam exits the nozzles at a high speed and then strikes the moving blades. These blades are designed to capture the kinetic energy of the high-velocity steam jet, causing the turbine rotor to spin. It's important to note that the effective pressure reduction happens primarily in the nozzles as they expand the steam, while the blades are more about extracting energy rather than further reducing the pressure.

This process is fundamental to the operation of impulse turbines, distinguishing them from other types of turbines where different mechanisms of pressure reduction and energy conversion may occur.